The Government’s responses to reports on the TPP by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) and the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee were tabled on 6 July 2017. The Government thanked both Committees for their consideration of the TPP Agreement and responded to the Committees’ recommendations.

High Level Representatives from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Peru, and Singapore and Vietnam met in Viña del Mar, Chile to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the margins of the High Level Dialogue on Integration Initiatives for the Asia Pacific.

The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report of its inquiry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was tabled in Parliament on 7 February 2017. The Committee recommended that the Australian Government should defer undertaking binding treaty action until the future of the TPP is clarified. The Committee also recommended that the Australian Government expedite reforms to the treaty-making process.

About the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations were undertaken by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. These negotiations successfully concluded on 6 October 2015 (AEST).

The TPP is a regional free trade agreement of unprecedented scope and ambition with great potential to drive job-creating growth across the Australian economy.

TPP outcomes include new market access opportunities for Australian exporters of goods and services, as well as investors, that are additional to Australia’s existing free trade agreements. For investment, the TPP will create new opportunities and provide a more predictable and transparent regulatory environment.

The TPP will also establish a more seamless trade and investment environment across 12 countries by setting commonly-agreed rules and promoting transparency of laws and regulations. The TPP will provide greater certainty for businesses, reduce costs and red tape and facilitate participation in regional supply chains.

The TPP addresses contemporary trade challenges in ways that have not previously been addressed in Australian FTAs, such as commitments on state-owned enterprises, which will promote competition, trade and investment and enable Australian exporters to compete on a more level playing field.

The TPP allows for other members to join in the future, which will amplify its benefits. Australia is committed to expanding the TPP membership over time.